HIST166 CM - Murder and Mayhem in Imperial China

This course examines the intersection between law and society in imperial China. Focusing primarily on the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), we will read records of crimes and disputes as windows into the ideal and reality of everyday life. Topics studied include the social and cultural fabrics of imperial China (e.g. government, family, and beliefs); the Qing legal system (e.g. how crimes were defined, tried, and punished); and skills necessary for making arguments about the past (e.g. determining what a document can and cannot tell us about the society that produced it). The course assumes no prior knowledge of Chinese history.

Offered: Every year

Credit: 1

Course Number: HIST166 CM